Horndean Biodiversity Action Plan Describes the Rich Natural Environment of the Parish and Is Both Timely and Inspirational
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Front cover top Catherington Down from the west showing 'Strip Lynchetts' bottom Path through Yoell's copse at Bluebell time Back cover top Catherington Lith Woodland Fair centre left Common Frog centre middle Yellow-legged Clearwing Moth centre right Nuthatch on feeder bottom Ancient pond in Yoell's Copse, Winter 2010 Below: Ham Lane, one of Horndean's Ancient Lanes linking Yoell's Copse to Catherington Down We are grateful to the following organisations for sponsoring the publication of this Plan. FOREWORD This Horndean Biodiversity Action Plan describes the rich natural environment of the Parish and is both timely and inspirational. We are all well aware of threats to our environment in both town and countryside. The pressures include development, pollution and climate change; we must fight to protect our existing landscape, the countryside and its trees, hedgerows and wildlife. As residents of Horndean Parish you are exceptionally well placed to appreciate the value of trees, with Yoell's Copse being a jewel in the crown. The rare Wye Whitebeams have drawn me to the wood on a number of occasions and I marvel at these special trees, hiding in a Hampshire community. Trees help to define our sense of place; they are the distinctive element of our landscape and support a huge range of biodiversity. In your gardens and open spaces you live amongst trees that are a legacy from the former farmland. These include some majestic old oaks, veritable green monuments in their own right It is obvious that this Biodiversity Action Plan is the result of a true passion in Horndean for your local environment, and it sets out clearly what is special and how the biodiversity of the Parish can be improved for future generations. On behalf of the Tree Council, I am delighted to be able to endorse it. Jon Stokes Director of Programmes The Tree Council34 Click on the icon in the top left of the screen to open the Table of Contents which lets you view the section you want by clicking on the section heading. Ctrl-Click the small raised numbers in the text for references in Appendix 2 To contact the Horndean Biodiversity Group email: [email protected] 1 SECTION 1 BIODIVERSITY 1.1 What is Biodiversity? Biodiversity is the sum of the variety of all living organisms from plants, animals and fungi, to micro- organisms invisible to the human eye which makes up and sustains our natural environment. The first legal framework to support the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity signed conservation of biodiversity and to require by 159 countries at the Rio Earth Summit. strategies and action plans to achieve this was 1994 UK Government publishes the UK the 1992 Rio Convention on Biological Biodiversity Action Plan (‘BAP’)4 Diversity. This defined biodiversity as ‘The 1998 Hampshire County Council BAP Volume variability among living organisms from all 2000 One published in September 1998 and sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine Volume Two published July 20005 and other aquatic ecosystems and the 1999- Horndean Parish Council commissions the ecological complexes of which they are part; 2002 production of the Horndean Local Nature this includes diversity within species, between Conservation Plan and the Village Design species and of ecosystems.’ Statement 2006 The Natural Environment and Rural 1.2 Why is it Important? Committees Act12 Biodiversity underpins the healthy natural 2007 UK partnership organisations produced ecosystems on which the human race relies for ‘Conserving Biodiversity – The U.K Approach’ setting out a devolved its food, water and medicine as well as natural framework for biodiversity conservation resources such as wood, rubber and products and promoting strategic action at a local derived from animals. level6 Biodiversity is fundamental to life on Earth 2009 East Hampshire Biodiversity Action Plan 7 because it supports the things on which we 2009-2019 approved depend such as fresh water, fertile soil and 2010 The strategic plan of the UN Convention clean air. This is due to the way the different on Biological Diversity is published at their meeting in Nagoya, Japan and includes organisms interact with each other to help five strategic goals and targets to be maintain the balance of the global ecosystem. achieved by 2020 Biodiversity also helps regulate natural 2010 The UN declares 2010 the International processes such as the growth cycles of plants, Year of Biodiversity with the aim of the mating seasons of animals, and even increasing awareness of the irreversible weather systems. damage being done to global biodiversity It has been estimated that about 80% of our 2011 UK Government’s Natural Environment White Paper published in June18 food comes from just 20 kinds of plant, and that although many kinds of animal are used as 2011 UK Government’s Biodiversity 2020 Strategy for England’s Wildlife and food, most comes from only a few species. Ecosystem Services is published in August Similarly, many drugs are derived from just a sets out how the quality of our few plant species and it may well be that other environment on land and at sea will be plants could prove to be potential sources of improved over the next ten years19 new drugs that could enhance our lives. 2012 Defra and the devolved administrations publish the UK post-2010 Biodiversity Many building materials as well as fibres, dyes, Framework in July covering the period resins, gums, adhesives, rubber and oil also from 2011 to 202020 come from plants, and other as yet unknown 2 materials could be discovered from research into covering a wider diversity of organisms. Accordingly, the need to preserve and promote biodiversity is not just so that we can enjoy walks and drives in the countryside looking at the different trees, plants and other wildlife that it supports, it is about ensuring that those trees, plants and other wildlife survive because the future of the human race depends on them. 1.3 How can we preserve it? Horndean has a range of valuable habitats in a relatively small area owing to its unique geology. These include ancient woodland, wildflower meadows and lowland heath, all of which have their own unique character and are threatened because Horndean is an attractive area for business development due to its location on the A3 between Portsmouth and London. As a result, many habitats are becoming fragmented and isolated and are too small to provide a good home for wildlife and risk being lost forever. The increase in the population of the Parish and its need for housing is reducing the green spaces that we share with wildlife for mutual benefit. Action to preserve biodiversity can take place on a number of different levels from sympathetic management of public space and the countryside by local authorities, to growing wildflowers in our gardens, putting out bird feeders in winter and creating compost piles. Groups have been formed by local residents with an interest in wildlife and a passion for the local area such as the South Downs Group of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust (‘HIWWT’) and Horndean Biodiversity Group (‘HBG’). Increasing Environmental Awareness, particularly among young people, is one of the most important things we can do in securing our natural heritage for future generations. An educational programme is in place between schools in Horndean and the Parish Council aimed at increasing awareness of the wildlife value of local sites. Ultimately, British wildlife depends on the availability of good habitat and this is something that can be encouraged by everyone, from homeowners to national government. 1.4 The Need for a Biodiversity Action Plan for Horndean The Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 200612 states that “Every public authority must, in exercising its functions, have regard, so far as is consistent with the proper exercise of those functions, to the purpose of conserving biodiversity.” This Plan identifies the animal and plant species living in the Biodiversity Action Plan (‘BAP’) Parish and the sites that provide their habitats, and sets out These Plans are internationally the actions to protect and enhance them while also providing recognized programs addressing the green space that local people use for recreation. It also threatened species and habitats aims to encourage the local community to help carry out designed to protect and restore these actions, and engage children’s interest in the species biological systems. and wildlife that can be found locally, as well as helping them Their principal elements typically to understand the importance of our natural environment. include recording information for selected species or habitats; The following sections cover Horndean past and present assessing their conservation status; including its geology and geography; the different types of setting targets for conservation land found in the Parish and the species that live on it, and and restoration; and establishing finally the actions we can take to preserve and enhance them timelines and partnerships for its to benefit both our wildlife and ourselves. implementation. 3 SECTION 2 HORNDEAN 2.1 History Horndean once stood on the northern boundary of the Forest of Bere, a great forest that stretched from the border of Hampshire to Winchester. Archaeological records for Horndean list finds from the Mesolithic (10,000BC-4,001BC) and Neolithic (4,000BC–2201BC) periods and sites with evidence of habitation from the Bronze Age (2,200 BC–801BC) onwards. Around 8000 BC a large part of the south side of Horndean was covered by deciduous forest, dominated by oak. The woodland would have formed a barrier between the communities living along the coast and the chalk downland to the north of Horndean. Two natural breaks connect the downs with the coastal plain, the Meon Valley to the west and the Ancient Bridleway and Copse at New Barn Farm valley of the Lavant running through Havant, Rowlands Castle and Finchdean.